The Chicago Bulls used to be the standard for a winning franchise. With Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Phil Jackson at the helm, they became one of the most popular and successful sports teams on Earth.
That's why, when Pippen talks, everyone else should listen. Even though he doesn't always get the credit he deserves, he's a proven winner, one of the best to ever do it, and someone who knows what it takes to reach the mountaintop.
Considering that, Bulls youngsters should take notice of his latest rant on Zion Williamson. In an appearance on the PBDs podcast, the six-time NBA champion didn't hold back on the New Orleans Pelicans' franchise player.
Scottie Pippen doesn't mince his words on Zion Williamson
"This kid is not even on the court; he's not even working to be a professional basketball player," Pippen said. "When you watch him, it is like you're seeing a kid on a college bench, and [he] still hasn't found what is going to be fruitful for him in life. Whether it's his diet, putting the right people around you, getting yourself ready, staying healthy… He hasn't shown that he's disciplined enough to take care of himself physically yet."
Some could say that his words should be taken with a grain of salt, given that Williamson is a Jordan athlete and Pippen has a well-documented one-sided beef with No. 23. But even if that were the case, that doesn't make it any less true.
The Bulls are a young team with several potential franchise players, and Pippen is telling them what not to do if they want to become stars. He's never been the closest guy to the franchise, but not reaching out to him would be a disservice if you're a young Bulls guy trying to make a name for yourself.
Even if it's just to pick his brain and learn the ropes of the perks and demands of the NBA lifestyle, Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson should have No. 33 on speed dial. He was there, did that, and has bragging rights over most players in NBA history; he's an authorized voice to help them out.
Fortunately, among all the concerns Bulls fans may have about their youngins, a questionable work ethic won't be one of them. Wilson has already shown that dawg in him, and he's worked closely with Buzelis this offseason. They want it, they're hungry, and they're working hard to get it.
The Bulls' glory days are long behind them, and while plenty of that has been due to the ownership's and front office's reluctance to go all-in on a winning project, they're laying the foundation with this new core.
A lot has changed since Pippen and Jordan ruled the league. Younger players make more money, have more exposure, and come across as entitled and much more worried about their brand than playing winning basketball. These young Bulls seem built differently and with an old-school mindset, and they should listen to what the second-greatest player in franchise history has to say.
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